Looking up through her tear-filled eyes, she saw the concerned face of Prince Four. His voice was hoarse and gentle: “Cry, you’ll feel better.”
“Wah—” Qingqing could no longer hold back and burst into tears, hugging Prince Four. He said nothing, just patted her trembling shoulders in comfort. After crying for a long time, Qingqing gradually stopped. Half of Prince Four’s robe was soaked with her tears. Seeing her look up, he gave a bitter smile: “This is my most expensive robe.”
Qingqing looked at him in confusion, “Ah?” Then, realizing what he meant, she burst into laughter, only to cover her mouth again, pretending to be angry: “So petty? Then why did you come to see me?” She raised her fist to hit him, but Prince Four quickly caught her hand: “I know you’ve been wronged, but this grievance won’t last long.”
Chapter 153: The Most Ordinary Little Eunuch
Qingqing nodded and slowly stood up. Prince Four followed, and after she had composed herself, he suddenly tapped his head: “I’ll take you out of the palace!”
Qingqing turned around quickly, all traces of sadness gone, joyfully asking, “Never to come back?” Prince Four lowered his head, looking apologetic. Qingqing realized her misunderstanding, thinking he was going to take her away from this cage forever. “Although I can’t take you away for good, I can let you be Lin Qingqing for a day.”
Qingqing’s interest was piqued, her spirits lifting: “How?”
Prince Four took her hand and led her outside. Qingqing didn’t ask where they were going; immense happiness and sweetness filled her heart. They arrived at Prince Four’s usual study, where he casually tossed her an eunuch’s outfit: “Put it on.”
Qingqing, puzzled, took the clothes and looked at him.
“Put it on, I’ll take you out of the palace to the market, let you be Lin Qingqing for a day.”
So, he was taking her out to the market, even if just for a day, it was better than nothing. Qingqing, who had rarely left the Lin residence since birth, the only exception being when she met the late emperor outside the city, knew that women loved to stroll through the streets. Even if they had nothing particular to buy, they enjoyed the outing. The pleasure of walking through the market was a joy in itself for women. Eating a skewer of sour-sweet candied hawthorn for two coins from a street vendor was more delightful to them than being a queen, a natural inclination of women.
Thinking this, Qingqing didn’t hesitate and changed into the clothes. She followed Prince Four out of the palace with her head bowed. Whether it was because she disguised herself well or because the guards dared not question those Prince Four brought along, no one paid her any mind as she left the palace gates.
Chapter 154: Being Lin Qingqing for One More Day
This feeling was new to Qingqing. Before, she was extremely ugly, and later, extremely beautiful; both extremes made her impossible to ignore. But now, Qingqing was just an ordinary little eunuch.
Once they were far from the palace gates, out of sight of the royal city, Qingqing breathed a sigh of relief and stole a smile for a long while, as if she had gained something precious. Prince Four playfully flicked her forehead: “Look at you, so easily pleased.”
Qingqing realized her slip, covering her mouth with a cough to show she was composed. Suddenly, Prince Four pulled her aside, and she thought they had been discovered, quickly hiding behind him out of fear.
After waiting for a long time without any movement, she only heard Prince Four’s increasingly suppressed laughter. Qingqing was furious: “It’s not right for the dignified Prince Four to tease a mere girl like me. Humph—”
Prince Four, looking at her indignant face, finally suppressed his laughter: “You’re my eunuch now, you can’t walk ahead of me.”
Only then did Qingqing notice that she had been walking in front of the “prince.” What little eunuch would dare to be so bold? Realizing this, she obediently followed behind Prince Four, head bowed.
Prince Four was dressed in casual attire, and as they approached the market, he rented a room in an inn for Qingqing to wait, explaining that her eunuch attire was inconvenient and would attract attention. He would buy a common servant’s outfit for her to change into before they went to the market.
Qingqing was not convinced: “Why can’t you be the servant?”
Prince Four laughed heartily, pointing at Qingqing: “Have you ever seen a ‘young master’ so frail hiring someone as imposing and magnificent as me?”
Qingqing spat at him but had to admit his point was reasonable. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Prince Four returned with a gray men’s outfit, urging Qingqing to change quickly, saying the market was already bustling.
Qingqing was excited, grabbing the clothes and starting to unbuckle her belt. As she undid her buttons, she felt something was off. Turning around, she saw Prince Four staring at her intently, his eyes full of fiery passion. Qingqing’s face flushed red to her ears. The room in this inn was just one large space without any partitions, not even a screen. Qing Qing, accustomed to life at the Lin family or in the palace, forgot in her excitement that this was a single room and began undressing right in front of Fourth Prince. When Fourth Prince saw her turn around, he awkwardly looked away, saying, “I… I’ll wait outside for you…” “Uh…” Qing Qing, not daring to look at him, let out a small grunt, but her heart was filled with sweetness. Fourth Prince had always been a gentleman; not speaking up earlier was probably to avoid embarrassing her. Recalling the sweet moments of the previous night, she felt even more shy. Hurriedly changing her clothes, she opened the door to find Fourth Prince about to knock. Both felt awkward; Fourth Prince spoke first, “Um… let’s get going…” “Okay…”
Chapter 155: Five Golden Flowers (Part One)
Although winter had arrived, the streets were unusually lively as the New Year approached. The lingering sunlight lazily crept over, bathing Qing Qing’s fair, smooth skin in warmth, and also casting a warm glow over the bustling market. Both sides of the street were lined with stalls of various sizes, mostly selling auspicious items like longevity locks and red paper-cut patterns for the New Year. Qing Qing had never strolled through a market before; the only time she had a glimpse was from a carriage, and she was mocked by Ya Fu for it. Today, she felt uninhibited, wanting to examine and touch everything. With candied haws and sugar figures in hand, she ate and exclaimed, “No wonder Ya Fu liked to go to the temple with Aunt Nanny when she was little; it’s because of all these delicious and fun things on the street.”